diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 27490f3..6d456b7 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -120,11 +120,18 @@ pytest --stresstest tests/turboPmac1/ax1/test_common.py
 Each motor has its own dedicated logger, whose loglevel can be set with the flag
 `--log=LEVEL`. `LEVEL` should be one of the `logging` - native levels - i.e.
 `DEBUG`, `INFO`, `WARNING`, `ERROR` or `CRITICAL` (see 
-https://docs.python.org/3/library/logging.html#logging-levels). To see the level
-description, run:
-```bash
-pytest --help | grep -- '--log='
-```
+https://docs.python.org/3/library/logging.html#logging-levels).
+
+In the context of this test framework, the log levels mean the following:
+- `DEBUG`: Show all raw caput and caget commands
+- `INFO`: Write high-level commands (e.g. move, stop, home etc.)
+- `WARNING`: Not used
+- `ERROR`: Serious error (e.g. motor could not be enabled / disabled)
+- `CRITICAL`: Not used
+All error levels higher than the defined one are forwarded to the Pytest
+logger.
+
+The default log level is `CRITICAL`.
 
 To specify the log level for a test run:
 ```bash
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 1a2f7a0..1f29a25 100755
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 import logging
-import textwrap
 
 from caproto.sync.client import read
 import pytest
@@ -48,16 +47,7 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
         "--log",
         action="store",
         default="ERROR",
-        help=textwrap.dedent("""
-        Set log level:
-        - DEBUG: Show all raw caput and caget commands
-        - INFO: Write high-level commands (e.g. move, stop, home etc.)
-        - WARNING: Not used
-        - ERROR: Serious error (e.g. motor could not be enabled / disabled)
-        - CRITICAL: Not used
-        All error levels higher than the defined one are forwarded to the Pytest
-        logger.
-        """).replace("\n", " ")
+        help="Set log level: DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR or CRITICAL"
     )